Douglas: Vermont Yankee gets good grades in consultant's report

Gov. Jim Douglas a new report by a state consultant points to the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant being able to operate reliably after its current license expires in 2012.

The report for the Department of Public Service by Nuclear Safety Associates does say the plant is operating reliably, but it also says the Vernon reactor has several problems that could hurt reliability in the future.

It pointed to problems with staff training, said the plants condensers are in tough shape and that problems with its cooling towers are more extensive than was thought after a section of one of them collapsed last year.

The Legislature and Public Service Board are expected to decide in their near future on whether the plant should be allowed to operate for another 20 years.